Colleges: Veteran Assumption men's basketball team gathers steam

Tim Beinert and Kevin Donahue have been basketball teammates for five years, roommates for four, and whether they are on the Assumption College campus or off it, they aren’t usually apart for more than a few hours each day.

“We’re together a lot,” Donahue said. “Definitely.”

Beinert, a fifth-year senior and team captain, and Donahue, a graduate student, have been part of an NCAA Tournament team, two sub-.500 seasons, a coaching change, and tremendous success so far in their final season with the Greyhounds.

Assumption (13-2, 10-1 Northeast-10) moved up seven spots to No. 16 in this week’s NABC Division 2 poll. The Greyhounds are the only NE-10 team ranked in the national top 25.

AC has won five straight heading into tonight’s conference game against Franklin Pierce, which stands two games behind the first-place Greyhounds. Tipoff is at 7:30 at Laska Gym.

“I’m not totally surprised we’re doing this well,” Beinert said, “but at the same time, it’s a great feeling being in this situation.”

The 6-foot-6 Beinert, younger brother of former Holy Cross guard Andrew Beinert, broke his foot before the start of his freshman season and watched from the bench as the Hounds won the NE-10 Tournament and captured an automatic NCAA berth.

Beinert cracked the starting lineup in 2010-11, but last season — under first-year coach Matt Mahar — really had his breakout, averaging 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds while earning all-conference honors.

The 6-foot Donahue averaged about six points off the bench during his first two seasons at AC. An Achilles tendon injury  wiped out his junior season, but like Beinert, Donahue also came on strong last year, leading the team in scoring (16.3 ppg) while averaging 37.9 minutes as the Greyhounds finished 14-14. Donahue was also an All-NE-10 selection.

Donahue (13.6 ppg) and Beinert (12 ppg) are again among Assumption’s leading scorers this season.

“It’s been a great year, especially playing for Coach Mahar,” Donahue said. “He’s a great coach and he’s revitalized a lot of people’s careers.”

Senior forward Ronson Quick (15 ppg) and sophomore guard Terrance Bobb-Jones (13.7) also average in double figures. The Hounds’ inside-out offense, rebounding and solid defense have been keys. Assumption ranks third in the NE-10 in both scoring defense (63.1) and field-goal percentage defense (39.5).

“We have a lot of talent,” Donahue said, “a lot of new guys along with a lot of guys who have been here for a long time. Last year, we were just kind of missing a couple pieces, and I think this year we’ve got them.”

Donahue scored his 1,000th career point earlier this month in a win over Bentley. Beinert got his a couple of weeks earlier in a victory over Philadelphia University.

“It’s amazing,” Beinert said. “We’ve been through so much together, so many ups and downs, from a championship to being one of the teams at the bottom of the pack, and now back on top again. It’s great to be successful in our last season together.”

Serving as mentors

When WPI junior Kelly Morgan’s younger brother, Glen Morgan, enrolled at the school last fall, one of the first pieces of advice she gave him was to get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass./Metrowest.

Kelly, a guard on the women’s basketball team, has been a Big Sister for three years to Monique, a sixth-grader at Elm Park Community School in Worcester, and the relationship has been an enriching experience for both.

“To be able to spend time with someone who really looks up to you as an older sibling,” Kelly said, “and to see I’m having an impact on her, especially someone her age who needs a role model, I really value our time together.”

Glen, a freshman on the WPI football team, heeded Kelly’s suggestion and became a Big Brother. He was fortunate enough to be matched with Monique’s younger brother, Richard, a second-grader at Elm Park Community School.

“It’s cool,” Kelly said. “We spend time with each other’s ‘Littles,’ so it’s a real family thing.”

The WPI women’s basketball team has been involved with the BBBS school-based mentoring program since 2005, the WPI men’s basketball team since 2003. In all, there are more than 20 sports teams from local colleges volunteering with the program. “Bigs” meet their “Littles” typically once a week after school and spend quality time together doing homework, playing games and sports, and talking.

“We both leave looking forward to the next week,” said WPI sophomore guard Sam Longwell, whose “Little” is 9-year-old Jesus.

January is National Mentoring Month, and in recognition, WPI is hosting its annual BBBS Night at tonight’s men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader at Harrington Auditorium. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to BBBS, as well as proceeds from a 50/50 raffle. Also, donations of board games, crafts, footballs and kickballs, to be used at the school-based mentoring program sites, will be accepted.

The unbeaten and No. 6 WPI men’s team (18-0) will face Springfield in a key NEWMAC matchup at 5:30, followed by the women (10-6) playing Babson at 7:30.

Players from both teams are looking forward to playing in front of their “Littles,” who will be accompanied in the stands by Melanie Perreault, vice president of programs for BBBS of Central Mass./Metrowest.

Kelly still has the “Go Kelly” sign Monique made for last year’s game hanging in her room.